Guide to Shopping Second Hand in College
We all know college is expensive and a student's budget is tight. We are always looking for deals, sales, and discounts.
With gamedays, social events, and more, shopping can be one of the biggest expenses for those in college. Thrifting, rental websites, and buy/sell/trade group chats are amazing resources for students to find gently used, affordable clothing.
Why Shop Second hand?
Whether you need a cheap outfit for a social event or game day, many students turn to fast fashion websites like Shein, Amazon, or Fashion Nova. However, the fast fashion industry is said to be one of the most prevalent causes of climate change because of the use of cheap, and toxic, textile dyes. This makes the fashion industry one of the largest polluters of clean water globally. In addition, fast fashion garments spark a conversation around the ethical concerns in the industry. Employees are often underpaid, forced to work long hours in unsafe working conditions, being exposed to harmful chemicals. While buying second hand is helpful for your wallet, it also benefits millions of employees and our environment.
Where to Shop?
Before rushing to Shein or Amazon next time you need a cheap outfit, look into one of these websites or stores first.
Poshmark, Mericari, or Depop (Resell Apps)
Nuuly, Rent the Runway, or FashionPass (Rental Websites)
GroupMe Buy/Sell/Trade Group Chats
Instagram Buy/Rental Accounts
Goodwill, The Thrifty Lizard, Harvest Thrift, Plato's Closet
There are so many great ways to shop second-hand if you are willing to put in the time. Poshmark, Mercari, and Depop each have over 8 million sellers on the app and have listed over 75 million items. This makes finding a formal dress, purse, or sweatshirt super easy. If you aren’t willing to commit to a purchase or want to try something you’ve seen trending on social media, try a rental service. Nuuly, Rent the Runway, and FashionPass are some of the top rental services. On these websites, you can choose a one-time rental that allows you to keep your item for 4-8 days at a time. This is perfect if you need a dress for an occasion that you know you’ll never wear again. These websites also have an option to rent with a membership by selecting a monthly subscription plan depending on how many items you want each month. This is a great option if you have a lot of events in one month.
Shop within Your Network
If you are in a pinch and need something quick, hop on Instagram! Many girls in Auburn and surrounding areas have a Buy/Rent Instagram account where they rent or sell clothes from their closets. This is a great option if you need a piece quickly. Another great way to buy from students is by joining a GroupMe Buy/Sell/Trade group chat. Add Auburn as your school on GroupMe, which opens up all the group chats made by Auburn students. There are so many amazing ways to buy second hand online, whether from a company or a classmate.
In-Person Shopping
Online shopping isn’t for everyone, so fortunately we have dozens of thrift stores in town. Goodwill, America’s Thrift, The Thrifty Lizard, Plato's Closet, and more are all amazing resources to shop second hand locally. Buying second hand in-store is also the cheapest method when shopping as most clothing items are under $10. This is a great option if you need something quick and are on a tight budget.
There are so many reasons to shop second hand in college. Budgets are tight, but thrifting/renting is a great way to stretch your budget further. Not only do these methods help you and your wallet, but they also positively impact the environment by reducing the toxic chemicals in our landfills caused by excessive consumption from fast fashion companies. So, next time you need a new outfit, consider shopping with one of these methods before jumping to a fast fashion website.
Be Well, Auburn.
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